On this day of your life, Janet, we believe God wants you to know … that how bad things may look right now means nothing, – it’s how good they can be with God’s help that counts.
In life you can absolutely count on one thing, – everything can turn around in one day, in one minute sometimes. Don’t you dare to give up, – you might be a moment away from a windfall.
Husband and I have been planning our family trip this year. Looks like we have lesser trips compared to last year’s. This time, we want our kids involved. We’re going to Hatyai, Thailand next month, to spend our time there for Chinese New Year holiday. Actually, hubby is going for work. But we decided to make it work/holiday trip. So next trip would be in either June or September. If it works out, we would all go together.
Oh, how I love to travel. And I am thankful to God for giving me the desires of my heart. So… which place is on my wishlist? Hmmm… let me try to think: panama city would be a cool place to go. I don’t mind going to Paris. We were almost there. But we were only at the airport. So I couldn’t consider it a been-to-places for me.
So many places to see and go. Only God can make it happen for us to go.
Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged,
but I will remember you.
Psalm 42:5,6
Encouragement for Today
Depression is one of the most common emotional ailments. One antidote for depression is to meditate on the record of God’s goodness to his people. This will take your mind off the present situation and give hope that it will improve. It will focus your thoughts on God’s ability to help you rather than on your inability to help yourself. When you feel depressed, take advantage of this psalm’s antidepressant. Read the Bible’s accounts of God’s goodness, and meditate on them.
I know this is like a joke but it’s not funny. I took my laptop with me when we went to the US. I thought it would be good if I did because I knew I would be gone for 3 weeks. I always need to be online because of my assignments. So I was happily blogging while vacationing. On our last night in LA, I put my laptop on the chair where I usually did. That night it rained. For the first time since we were in the US, it rained. I didn’t know that it leaked in certain parts of the room we were at. So the rain dripped right on top of my computer… and the irony was, on top of where the motherboard was supposed to be. I felt like pulling my hair after I discovered it the next day.
And so, as you can guess, the motherboard let go… and stripped me of a computer to use. And so for a while, I was using my husband’s laptop.
The good thing about it is that the hard drive wasn’t affected. Usually hard drives are kind of protected. I am happy coz I can still recover my files where my photos of my US trip were downloaded. Phew!
My husband has been craving for Indian food when we got back from the US. So we decided I cook Indian food at home. I got the recipe online and I am happy to have found another Indian food recipe. I cooked Sambar and fried chicken. It happened that my dad-in-law came in just in time for dinner. I was happy I cooked extra. So we asked him to join us.
Anyways, since sambar is a dish made of dhal, it’s very rich in protein. It’s actually not good to eat too much of it especially if you suffer from gout or rheumatism. One thing I noticed is that a lot of Indian men are suffering from these two. So they are in constant search for treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. But at the same time, they keep on eating protein rich food. With my husband, I kind of control his protein intake. I know that if we don’t be careful, he would also suffer from arthritis.
“Don’t make your living by extortion
or put your hope in stealing.
And if your wealth increases,
don’t make it the center of your life.”
Psalm 62:10
encouragement for today
Here is practical advice concerning wealth (a topic many marketers know is irresistible). Gain wealth honestly, by helping, not exploiting people. It’s a lie to believe that “my gain means your loss.” Godly wealth building comes from creating win-win situations for everyone. And when wealth does increase, don’t make it the center of life. Use it for good, and focus on the kingdom. See how God will bless when you take this approach.
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions
With the burning of some Christian churches in Malaysia, people are wondering if it’s safe to live in Malaysia nowadays? I know this is a big thing that has been happening in Malaysia. When the court of justice issued an approval for the Christians (the Catholic Paper made an appeal) to use the word Allah in the Scriptures, our Muslim brothers didn’t quite like it. It is still an ongoing happening now. I think some are still on the rally so that the Christians change the Scriptures and not refer Allah as God.
Anyways, a lot of Malaysians are shocked with what’s happening. I think some of them are getting their whole life insurance just in case.
What do I say about this issue? Nothing really. One thing for sure though… I know some good are going to come out of this.
“God has spoken plainly,
and I have heard it many times:
Power, O God, belongs to you;
unfailing love, O Lord, is yours.
Surely you repay all people
according to what they have done.”
Psalm 62:11–12
encouragement for today
Perfect power and perfect love meet in God—and only in God. In humans, we see only faint and distorted images of both love and power. In God, they are combined in perfect balance. Where do you need God’s power today? Where do you need his unfailing love? Welcome them in; open the door of your heart to receive.
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions
Still on jet lag, tired and sleepy and already thinking of my next trip. Well, I can’t help it especially after stumbling upon the internet about Branson vacation packages. When I was in the US, I really wished I could go to more places and meet more friends. But time, distance and finances didn’t allow me. And so, I am hoping that for my next trip to US, if there’s any, I could meet my friends, go to Branson, maybe Oregon, etc. If indeed I can go back to US again, I would definitely include my kids in the budget and planning and make sure we visit Disneyland in Florida.
My friends in my yahoo messenger’s list always wonder why I have all the time in the world to get online. Some of my friends know why and some are left wondering. Well those the latter never asked. Well, one of my hobbies is to write. So I kind of enjoying writing and earning from it at the same time. What do I write? I write reviews. How did I learn to write reviews? From reading reviews online, i.e. lipozene reviews, diet reviews, etc. One thing I noticed is that the more well-read a person is, the more he has ideas on what to write.